Rigatoni with Easy Vodka Sauce Recipe

Vodka sauce is one of the classic Italian pasta sauces; it’s one you should have in your recipe arsenal. Don’t worry about the alcohol, most of it cooks off, and it adds a lightness to the sauce!

INGREDIENTS

Kosher salt

1 medium onion

4 garlic cloves

4 oz. Parmesan cheese

2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzling

1 4.5-oz. tube double-concentrated tomato paste

½ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

2 oz. vodka

¾ cup half-and-half

1 lb. rigatoni

Basil leaves (for serving)

PREPARATION

STEP 1

Fill a stock pot or other large pot three-quarters full with water and heat over high. Toss in a handful of salt and bring to a boil while you do your other prep. Peel and finely chop 1 onion. Firmly smash 4 garlic cloves with the flat side of a chef’s knife and remove peel. Grate 4 oz. Parmesan on the smallest holes of the box grater.

STEP 2

Heat 2 Tbsp. oil in a Dutch oven over medium (position it next to pot of water). Add onion and garlic and cook, stirring constantly, just until onion is starting to brown around the edges, 5–7 minutes, add entire 4.5-oz. tube tomato paste and ½ tsp. red pepper flakes and stir until paste evenly coats onion. Continue to cook, stirring often, until paste is deep red and starting to brown on bottom of pot, 5–7 minutes, add 2 oz. vodka to deglaze pan and stir to incorporate, scraping bottom of pot. Reduce heat to low.

STEP 3

Using a heatproof glass measuring cup, scoop about ¼ cup boiling water from pot, then add ¾ cup half-and-half to measuring cup (this brings up the temperature of the half-and-half so it won’t break when you add it to the pot).
Slowly add warmed half-and-half to Dutch oven, stirring constantly, until a smooth sauce forms. Remove from heat.
Add ½ cup pasta cooking liquid to Dutch oven and stir to incorporate, then gradually add half of Parmesan, stirring constantly to melt cheese. You should have a smooth, glossy sauce that coats each piece of pasta. Season with salt and add a splash more pasta cooking liquid to thin sauce, if needed.

STEP 4

Divide pasta among bowls. Top with remaining cheese, dividing evenly. Drizzle with more oil, then tear basil leaves over.